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The Best Holiday Candles & Diffusers

Best Holiday CandlesI love holiday scented candles.  They make your home feel so festive.  I always save mine until November so I can really get into the holiday spirit.

I’ve tried A LOT of candles over the years and found many of them to be too cloying or just plain bad.  Here are my favorites.

White Cypress – I’ll be honest.  I’ve graduated beyond Voluspa candles.  I don’t normally buy them but make an exception for two of their limited edition holiday scents because they’re that good.  This one smells like a walk in a winter wonderland.

Après-Ski – a beautiful blend of spruce and cypress. This candle has excellent throw.

Crushed Candy Cane – not cloying or synthetic, this smells fresh and happy.

Birchwood Pine – another luxurious Christmas tree scent, this one has base notes of rich musk and amber.

Lips Incense Holder – super chic to display and a great option for those who prefer incense over candles.

Incense – this incense brand is clean burning thanks to the essential oils they use. I adore the Cedarwood and Black Spruce.

Fallen Fir – I’ve written about Otherland candles before for their excellent throw, non-toxic ingredients and low price point. This one is described as “Christmas in a box.”

Charcoal – if you like masculine scents, this woodsy scent makes you feel like you’re cozied up in front of a fireplace. I go for the diffuser because it’s so elegant.

Wick Trimmer – I used scissors for years but hated cleaning them.  I finally bit the bullet and got a wick trimmer.  #soworthit

Broken Rosary – This has all of the warm, spicy notes you want during the holidays – cinnamon, cardamom and cedarwood.

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2021 Holiday Gift Guide for the Hostess

2021 Holiday Gift Guide Hostess1. Weighted Blanket– this 100% organic cotton weighted blanket is hand-sewn and won’t make you overheat.  It comes in five colors.

2. Trinket dish – I’m obsessed with this Greek jewelry designer so when I saw her home collection I about died.

3. Charm necklace – this necklace has 7 links that can be removed, making it ideal for swapping out charms.  You can adjust the length from 12 – 17 inches.

4. Pajamas – top-rated and super comfortable and chic.

5. Slippers – these are top-rated, SO cute and come in lilac, lime green and white too.

6. Lips coasters – such a fun statement and a very useful gift.

7. Beanie – this beanie comes in 10 colors and is 100% wool.

8. Pour over kettle – I own this and love that it doubles as a coffee pour over kettle or just to heat water for tea.

9. Mariah Carey ornament – I mean… we all need this in our lives.

10. Breakfast spread – Nicholas Vahe is known for his delicious spices, spreads and oils. This will make a great breakfast treat.

11. Tea towels – you can never have too many tea towels.  I love that these are super absorbent and come 4 to a pack.  They also come in multiple colors.

12. Toys coffee table book – for any nostalgia lover, this is a slam dunk.  Love the retro cover.

2020 Holiday Gift Guide: Beauty

2020 Beauty Gift Guide

 

Beauty Gift Guides are among my favorites to put together.  Did you know a cosmetic purchase is proven to boost a person’s mood more than any other type of purchase?

Here are my favorites for 2020.

  1. Liquid Luminizer – this comes in silver and gold and has dozens of 5-star reviews.  It’s green beauty and can be used on the face or body for a beautiful glow.
  2. Liquid eye shadow – another green beauty hero, the colors this eye shadow comes in are GLORIOUS.  I really want to try the cool lavender.  It dries in 10 seconds, won’t crease and is buildable.
  3. Foundation brush – I wrote about how this is my best beauty buy of 2020.  GET ONE for yourself and give as a gift.
  4. Body oil – this body oil has a subtle citrus scent and feels absolutely glorious.  Another one of my best green beauty buys of 2020.
  5. Nail polish set – my absolutely favorite 9-free, non-toxic nail polish. It is SO easy to apply thanks to the wide brush.  They are offering 3 holiday sets – Noirs, Neutrals and Shimmers.  I bought the Noirs but may need to get all 3.
  6. Acid Potion – I’m a daily user of p50 lotion (it has a cult following, Google it).  This version is just as effective and easier to come by (sold at tons of retailers).  Plus it’s green beauty!
  7. Wellness set – a silk mask, luxury hand sanitizer and the best hand cream?  Practical and pretty.  Yes, please!
  8. Lip balm – I discovered this tinted lip gloss when searching for something nourishing that wasn’t sticky and boy, did it deliver.  I love this milky color for every day.
  9. Eye shadow brick – 2020 is the year for eye makeup.  This green beauty eye shadow glides on like silk.  I also love Signature for my everyday eye.
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Sale Deals You Don’t Want to Miss

If you’ve followed me for a while, you know that this is the time of year when I do most of my shopping.

I make all of my designer and investment purchases during these end of season sales.

I stock up on all of my beauty supplies: makeup, skincare, hair care and nails.

I buy holiday gifts AND most of my birthday and other special gifts for the year.

With the bevy of sales, it’s easy to get lost in the noise or feel analysis paralysis.  Here are the sales I’m shopping and why I love them.

  1. They are from retailers with ethical supply chains
  2. They have great return policies
  3. The products are high quality – they’ll last forever
Aurate

My go-to for every day, fine jewelry.  Their pieces are solid gold (also offer gold vermeil) without the high mark-up.  The dainty studs I wear on the daily are from here.

Use code STUFFED for 25% off.

Violet Grey

This is my go-to for beauty.  While 90% of my beauty routine is green, clean beauty, there are some products I use that aren’t because their efficacy is SO good.  Violet Grey is my happy balance for carrying every beauty product under the sun.

Take 20% off this week.

Naadam

I’ve written about how amazing Naadam is before.  Their ethical, superior quality cashmere is an absolute must.

Their sale is up to 75% off.

The Big 4

There are 4 designer retailers I shop with the most.  Each has their own specialty.

Moda Operandi for an incredible mix of established and under-the-radar designers.  Go for Ganni, Ulla Johnson, Acler and Johanna Ortiz.

SSENSE for avant garde and off-the-beaten-path pieces.  Go for Moussy Vintage and Golden Goose.

Matches Fashion for the best selection of everything designer.

Net-a-Porter for the best mix of advanced contemporary designers.

The Indie Darlings

W Concept has an insane selection of indie designers, mostly from the Pacific Rim.  Use code BLACK2020 for an extra 30% off.

Garmentory is an aggregated boutique of all the rad stores throughout the country.  The best of the best curation.

Holiday Gift Guide for the Hostess

I’ve always waited until after Thanksgiving to decorate for the holidays, but with 2020 being such a tough year, I decided to jump into all things holiday a little early.

Over the weekend I did some online holiday shopping and had to create this Hostess Gift Guide Under $40 for you.  I’ve purchased almost every single one of these items (shhh, don’t tell my family).

  1. Puzzle – puzzles are THE item of the pandemic and the fact that this one is double-sided and features Gray Malin’s artwork is a win-win.  Take me to Italy, STAT.
  2. Pizza cutter – this is the chicest pizza cutter I’ve ever seen!  It also comes in a leopard version.
  3. Trivet – the minimal Scandanavian vibe of this trivet is so rad.  It would make a great addition to any countertop (comes in three colors).
  4. Spice trio – I read an article on the Founder of this spice company and how she’s revolutionizing the game of modern cooking.  I just had to support this boss babe.
  5. Candle – I recently learned that how well a candle permeates a room is called throw.  The reviews for this one and its even throw are fantastic.  Plus it’s clean-burning and comes in multiple scents.
  6. Cacao turmeric and whisk – I shared my love of this turmeric powder to combat inflammation.  The cacao flavor is so perfect for the holidays.  Add this matcha whisk to it for the perfect gift set.
  7. Olive oil and breadsticks – as a Greek girl, I immediately fell for the cute packaging of this Yiayia & Friends olive oil.  Add a set of breadsticks for a yummy hostess treat.
  8. Food storage bags – for any mom or environmentally friendly gal, these storage bags are a must.  They come in 3 sizes and 5 colors.  Made from non-toxic material, they are dishwasher, microwave and freezer safe.
  9. Temporary tattoos – I’m a sucker for cute things and these whimsical temporary tattoos are so fun.  They also have an edgier set of lightning bolts, skulls and hearts.
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